Dirigible torpedo.



PATENYTED NOAV. s, 19o3.

1 W. MQGAUGHEY DIRIGIBLETORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED iIOV. 3,1903.

1). w. MQGAUGHEY.

DIRIGIBLB TORPEDO. APPLIOATION Him) JAN. 8., 1902.

4 SHEETS-SEEET 2.

IMMW

j of construction hereinafter described and To all whom it may concern/.

Patented November 3, 1903.

PATEN. T OFFICE.

DAVID WILEY MCCAUGHEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DIRIGIBLE ITORPE'DO.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 743,315, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed January 8,1962. Serial No. 88.893. (No model.)

Be it known that I, DAVID WILEY Mo- CAUGHEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements injDirigible Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of tor-' pedoes which isprovided with self-contained mechanism by which the movements thereof may be controlled, and particularly to that class of torpedoes which is arranged to be controlledthat is, moved backward and forward-by electrically-actuated mechanisms, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient electrically-con trolled torpedo.

A further object of the invention is to pro-' vide. a torpedo with electrically actuated.

mechanisms connected with the shore-line with but a single insulated wire and arranged to be operated by the intensity of the current therein.

The invention consists, further and finally,

in the features, combinations, and details claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is spective detail of one of the detent-bars hereinafter described; Fig. 3, a similar view of one of the pivoted detent-bars hereinafter described; Fig. 4, a plan sectional view of one form of torpedo as it appears when constructed in accordance with these improvementsg'Fig. 5, a side elevation, partly in section, of the same; and Fig.6 an enlarged sectional'detail of the upper part of the spool-holding rod shown in the lower part of Fig. 5, as will be more. fully hereinafter explained. Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of, part of the torpedowith the exterior of the water chamber and compressed air tank 100. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the water-chamber 101, compressed-air tank 102, and valves 103 and 104. for admitting the water into and expelling it through air-chamber 101 to sink and raise the torpedo in manner hereinafter more fully described; Fig. 9, an enlarged sectional detail drawing of one of said valves, and Fig. 10 the head of the exterior of one of said valves with projecting pins, showing the method of stopping the rotation of said valves atthe desired point, as hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of one of the four reversible motorsv shown in Fig. 1, all of which are identical.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that it is highly desirable to provide means by which an explosive torpedo may be launched from the shore or from a vessel and directed toward a given mark and exploded at any desired point adjacent thereto. To accomplish this result,various devices and expedients have been used, some of which give more or less satisfaction and all of which contain objections which render their use somewhat undesirable. This invention therefore is designed principally to overcome as many objections of the prior art as possible and provide a simple, economical, and effi= cient torpedo which may be controlled from the shore by the use of a single conducting line which conveys currents of varying intensities to the mechanisms and is arranged to operate the desired mechanisms, and there by control and direct the movements of the torpedo, as will be more fully hereinafter ex plained. v

Describing first the means by which the torpedo is driven backward or forward-that is, the movements by which the propeller a (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) may be rotated in either directionI provide an electric motor I), (see diagram of Fig. 1,) which is electrically connected with a source of current, either a dynamo or battery 0, located on the shore, by means of one insulated line, and the other end of which is arranged to be grounded through the intervention of the water. When. the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1,

Now move the contactno current can pass.

lever 9 forward till it comes in contact with the first button 38 ofthe rheostat f. Then the direct current, as I prefer to term it, will flow from the battery 0 through the wire (1, cut-out lever e, thence through the resistancecoils f, through wire 9, arm h of the reversing-lever, wire 1, through magnet 1, wire 7',

Ico

magnet 2, wire 70, magnet 3, wire Z, magnet 4, wire m, magnet 5, wire a, magnet 6, wire 0, contact 19, contact q, wire 7', motor I), which operates the propeller in a direction to move the torpedo backwardly, thence through wire 3, wire t, contacts a and o, wire 10, wire 00, contacts y and .2, wire 7, and wire 8 to the ground, (meaning thereby the water connection of the ground,) thence back to the battery from the ground-wire 9, switch-lever 10, wire 11, arm 12 of the reversing-switch, and wire 13 to main battery. If it be desired to move the propeller forward at the desired rate of speed, I consider it best to use for this purpose a reverse-current. To accomplish this, I throw the reversing switch-lever so that its arms h and 12 instead of contacting the buttons 14 and 15, respectively, are arranged so that the arm h contacts button 15 and the arm 12 contacts button 16. The current then flows from battery 0 to wire cl, controllinglever e, rheostat f, wire g, switch-arm h, button 15, wire 11, switch-lever 10, and wire 9 to the ground, thence by water to 8, then from wire 8 through the same circuit as above described, but in an opposite direction thereto, back to wire "i, thence by wire 18, button 16, switch-arm 12, and wire 13 to the battery 0. The torpedo will then move forward. Now suppose the mechanism is as represented in Fig. 1. No current can pass. Now move the controlling-lever 6 until it touches button 38 of the rheostat, and the direct current will flow as above described. The current supplied while the lever e is in contact with button 38 of the rheostat acts upon all of the magnets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, but is not of sufficient strength to draw down the armatures of any of them. If, however, the lever e is moved forward into contact with button 46 of the rheostat, the direct current still being used, then sufficient resistance would be cut out to allow the magnet 1 to become energized sufficiently to attract itsarmature, so as to break the contact bctweenp and q, entirely cutting b out of the circuit in the manner hereinafter more fully described. In order, therefore, to permit the use of the necessary strength of direct current in operating Z), I lock the switches in such a manner that either the inverse or direct current can be used and without limit as to strength, except as here inafter mentioned, and without bringing into use any motor other than the one described.

I will now describe the locking mechanism above referred to.

4 and 5, Fig. 1, are soft-iron magnets. When magnet 4 is acted upon bya direct current, it repels the permanent polarized magnet 19, and when magnet 5 is energized by a direct current it attracts permanent polarized magnet 33. Of course it follows that when the inverse current is used 19 will be attracted and 33 will be repelled by their respective magnets. 19 is attached to the sliding bar 20, and 20 is in turn supplied with a number of cam shaped projections 21, as

shown particularly in Fig. 3, one of which cam-shaped projections when the sliding bar 20 is in its normal position holds the pivoted locking-bar 23 in such a position that the pivoted armature-lever 25 can be operated without catching upon the point 24, Fig. 3. When, however, the sliding bar 20 is drawn toward the magnet 4, the cam 21, Fig. 3, operates in such a manner as to allow the locking-bar 23 to be drawn by its spring 22, Fig. 3, toward the pivoted armature-lever 25, with the result that the point 24 on said locking-bar 23 will be projected either immediately above or immediately below the pivoted armature-lever 25, (the position of 25 depending upon whether or not magnet 1 is energized,) with the result that 25 will be held in whatever position it happens to be when the magnet 4 is energized sufliciently to attract 19that is to say, if the sliding bar 20 should be attracted by magnet 4 while the lever 25 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 then the point 24, Fig. 3, would pass above said bar 25, preventing 25 from being attracted to magnet 1 when magnet 1 is energized. If, on the other hand, the sliding bar 20 is drawn toward the magnet 4 while the pivoted armature-lever 25 is drawn down in contact with the core of its magnet 1, then said point 24 of the lockingbar above described will pass under said pivoted armature lever 25 and prevent it from regaining its normal position until released in'the manner hereinafter described. The pivoted locking-bars 26 and 27 will look their respective pivoted armature-levers 2S and 29 in the same manner as pivoted locking-bar 23 looks the pivoted armature-lever 25, as above described. I construct magnet 4 in such a manner that it is energized with the inverse current While the controllinglever e rests upon button 38 of rheostat, this being the first of the magnets of the entire system to be energized sufficiently to attract its armature. WVhen magnet 4 is energized, the pivoted latch 30 holds the sliding bar 20 at its limit of movement to the right, with its polarized armature in contact with the core of magnet 4.

With the parts in the position above described a free inverse current may be employed and of any desired intensity, for, as hereinbefore explained, magnet 4 being the most easily energized of any of the magnets in the system permanently locks armaturelevers 25, 28, and 29, as he'reinbefore described, and repels the polarized armatures 33 and 71. It is also apparent from the foregoing description that when the mechanism is in the position last above described a direct current may be used of any desired intensity, provided only it is not of sufficient strength to energize magnet 5 sufficiently to attract its armature 33. The effect and object of energizing magnet 5 will be described fully hereinafter. From the above description it is apparent, therefore, that the operator by first moving the controlling-lever 6 into contact with button 38 and then switching in the inverse current locks the mechanism in such a position that he can at will propel the boat either backward or forward and at the desired rate of speed.

When it is desired to unlock the sliding bar and permit the spring 31 to retract it to the left, and thereby operate the pivoted locking-levers 23, 26, and 27, so as to release their respective pivoted armature-levers, the direct current must be employed and of sufficient power to energize magnet 5. The re.- versing switch-lever is then operated to the position shown in Fig. 1, as first described,

'and the controlling-lever moved to the button 32 of the rheostat. With the parts in the position shown a direct current of suflicient Y intensity is furnished, so that it flows from the battery through the wire (1, controlling lever-arm e, rheostat f, wire 9, arm h of the reversing-lever, button 14, wire c', magnet 1, Wire j, magnet 2,'wire k,'.magnet 3, wire Z, magnet 4, wire m, and magnet 5, which is constructed in such manner as thatmagnet 4 repels its armature 19, as hereinbefore described, and magnet 5 is energized to such an extent that it pullspermanent magnet 33 over against its core, thereby pulling a second sliding bar 34 to the right. The movement of the sliding bar 34 causes a projection 35 thereon to contact one free end of the latch 30 and to operate it against the tension of a spring 36, so as to raise it from contact with a projection 37 on the first-named sliding bar 20, permitting its spring 31 to retract bar 20, which bar retracting moves the cam projections 21 into engagement with the pivoted locking-levers, and thus moving said pivoted locking-levers 23, 26, and 27 and their respective pins 24, Fig. 3, away from engagement with the. respective pivoted armaturelevers. If the current were kept up at this intensity, it would act on the various magnets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5to energize all of them; but, as will'be shown hereinafter, none of the motors connected with the mechanism would be operated upon, excepting possibly motor .62, which would be operated to close an airin Fig.1.

valve,.as hereinafter described, provided such air-valve was open at the time the direct current was switched in, as last above described. If, however, the current is broken, either by moving the controlling-lever e entirely out of connection with the rheostat f or'by opening the switch-lever 10, then the magnets are all denergized, and the entire mechanism immediately returns to the normal position shown It will be seen, therefore, that any one of the single operations above described or a combination of them may be used to move the torpedo backward or forward at any desired rate of speed.

To operate the rudder, amotor 39 is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, having an arma ture-shaft 40 running out, provided with. a worm engaging-aworm-wheel 41, which in turn is provided with a shaft 42, having a worm 43thereon engaging a worm-wheel 44 on the rudder-shaft 45, so that the direction ver is moved to the button '46 of the rheostat,

which furnishes a direct current of sufficient intensity to flow from the battery through wire cl, controlling-lever e, button 46, resistance-coils f, wire g, arm h of the reversinglever, button 14, wire 2', and magnet 1 and being of sufficient intensity energizes such magnet, so as to draw the armature-lever 25 down against its core,*thereby opening the former circuit between the contacts 19 and q and forming a contact between 52and 25 and be tween 25 and 53, respectively, an instant before the contact between p and q is broken. A rigid spring detent or looking bar 48, withits latch-like detent 49, Fig. 2, allows the free end 50 of armature-lever 25 to press 49 back, when 50 is attracted by magnet 1 and holds the armature-lever 25 at its lowest limit of motion and in contact with its magnet 1. The current then continues to flow from such magnet through wire j, magnet 2, which the current is not strong enough to energize, wire 70, and magnet 3, which the current is still too feeble to energize, as well as all other magnets excepting magnet 1, which alone is energized, thence through wire Z, magnet 4, wire m, magnet 5, wire at, magnet 6, wire 0 to wire 51, thence through contact-post 52,

- armature-lever 25, contact-brush53, wire 54 to motor 39, where it operates so as to move the rudder in the desired direction. From motor 39. the current passes through wire 8 to wire 22, and thence through contacts to and 0 back to the battery 0 by the course already fully described. To move the rudder in the opposite direction, the controlling-lever e is allowed to remain on the same button 46 and the reversing-switch moved so that its arms contact the buttons 15 and 16, as already doscribed,thus reversing the current in the manner already described. When'the direct current energized magnet 1, as above described, all the pivoted armature-levers except 25 were in their open position and the lever 25 was locked by detent 49 in its closed position in m annerhereinbefore described. When the inverse current was switched in as above, magnet 4 was energized in such manner as to attract 19 to its core, inasmuch as it required less current to energize magnet 4 than magnet 1, as hereinbefore described. Hence the sliding bar 20 was attractedtoward magnet 4, thus operating the cam 21, Fig. 3, thus allowing the spring 22, Fig. 3, to draw the locking-bar 23, Fig. 1, into contact with the pivoted armature-bar 25, driving the pin shown on the upper end of. said locking-bar 23 under in manner above described. The armaturebars 28 and 29 are likewise locked by the movement of sliding bar but inasmuch as magnets 2 and 3 are not energized the armature-bars 28 and 29 are not attracted and are therefore locked in the open position, (shown in' Fig. 1,) as hereinbefore described. The latch 30 holds theslidiug bar 20 in its position against magnet 4. The operator is now at liberty to increase or decrease the current,

either direct or inverse, at will so long as he I does not switch in suflicient direct current to energize magnet 5 or magnet 6. To unlock the armaturelevers, the reversing switch-lever is permitted to rest in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the controlling-lever 6 moved to button 32 on the rheostat, which allows sufficient current to pass to energize the magnet 5, pulling the sliding bar 34 and all of the rigid spring detent-bars 48, Fig. 2, to the right, thereby releasing lever 25 from detent 49 and at the same time operating latch 30, so as to release sliding bar 20, which slides back to its normal position, thus pressing back locking-bars 23, 26, and 27, and thereby releasing all of the pivoted armaturelevers 25, 28, and 29, so that their respective springs act to return them to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, as soon as the controlling-lever e is moved to an open positionthat is, out of electric engagement with the rheostat f.

The torpedo should be provided with the usual water-ch amberthat is, a chamber c011- nected withthe outside of the torpedoso that water may be allowed to flow therein and sink the torpedo. Itis desirable, therefore, to provide a motor which will be connected with an electric generator or source of current-supply and arranged to open and close a door or valve, (not shown,) which may be the ordinary door of any submarine vessel. In the diagram Fig. 1 I have shown a motor 56, which is used for the purpose of operating the valve which opens and closes the watercompartment of the torpedo. In order to operate this motor and furnish current for it, the controlling-lever e is moved to the button 57 on the resistance-coil, so as to furnish a direct current of sufficient intensity to energize magnet 2. Current then flows, as above described, from the main battery to the magnet 2, energizing the preceding magnet 1, as well as the magnet 2, and draws down the pivoted armature-levers 25 and 28, so as to close contact between their respective brushes. It will be noted, however, that when armaturelever 28 is attracted to magnet 2 the contact between a and v is broken, thus cutting out motors band 39. The current, continuing to flow, as before described, reaches the wire 0, from thence passes through the wire 58 to the post 59, thence through the armature-lever 28 to brush 60, through wire 61 to the motor 56, which it operates in a manner to open the valve and let the water into the water-compartment. From 56 the current flows through wires 76 and w, and thence back to battery magnets 5 and 6.

0 in manner hereinbefore described. It is now possible to use the direct current, of no greater strength, however, than just what is required to energize magnet 2, because if a direct current of greater power than this is used without first having locked the armature-levers the magnet 3 would be energized, thereby cutting out I), 39, and 50. If, therefore, it is desired to use a direct current of greater strength than is required to energize magnet 2, the armature-levers 25, 28, and 29 must first all be locked, which is accomplished by simply reversing the current. When the direct current was flowing, the pivoted armature-levers 25 and 28 were locked and are still held down against their respective magnets 1 and 2 by their respective spring lock-bars 48, Fig. 2, and remained in that position when the current was broken. Therefore when the inverse current is switched in it flows over the same circuit as the last-described direct circuit, but in an opposite direction. The instant the reverse current passes over the circuit magnet 4 is energized in manner hereinbe'fore fully described, and the pivoted magnet-bars 25 and 28 are further locked down in contact with their respective magnets 1 and 2, while the pivoted armature-bar 29 is locked in the open position (shown in Fig. 1) by the pins 24, Fig. 3, which are operated by the cam-like projections 21, Fig. 3, on the sliding bar 20 in manner hereinbefore fully described. It is now possible to use either the direct current for opening the door or valve up to any desired intensity or the inverse current of any desired intensity for closing said door or valve, provided the direct current is not of sufficient strength to energize Now if it is desired to use another motor for any purpose the direct current is switched in and the controlling-lever e moved along the rheostat f to button 32, which allows to pass a current sufficiently strong to energize magnet 5, which attracts the permanent magnet 33 and with it sliding bar 34, thereby releasing the pivoted armature-levers 25 and 28 from their respective detents 49, Fig. 2, and locking-points 24, Fig. 3. Pivoted armature 29 is also released from its locking-pin 24, Fig. 3, in manner hereinbefore fully described. Now when the current is broken either by throwing the controllinglever 6 back until entirely out of contact with the rheostat or by opening the switch-lever 10 all of the magnets in the circuit are deenergized and all of the armature-levers being unlocked return at once to their normal positions, as represented in Fig. 1, and the mechanism is at once again ready to bring any desired motor into use.

Then the water is in the compartment, it is desirable that means he provided to force it out, so that the operator may raise the torpedo at will. The preferable means for accomplishing this is compressed air, and such means being well known in the art needs no further description here. To operate the ITO it is necessary to provide amotor 62, as shown.

in Fig. 1, for that purpose, and to operate the motor it is necessary to furnish a current of different intensity from those which have gone before, which is accomplished by moving the controlling-lever e to the button 63 of the rheostat, leaving the reversing switchlever in the position shown in Fig. 1. A direct current thenflows, as hereinbefore described, to and through the electromagnets 1, 2, and 3, energizing all of them, and pulling down, in addition to 25 and 28, the pivoted armature-lever 29 into contact with its magnet 3, and thereby cutting out of circuit the motors b, 39, and 56. The rigid spring detent bar or lever 48, with detent 4.9,- Fig. 2, holds said arm ature-lever 29 in its closed position, so that when the current reaches the wire 0 it passes through the wire 65, post 66, armature-lever 29, brush 6 and wire 68 to the motor 62, from whence it returns by wire 69 to the water at 8, and thence, as before, to the main battery.

With the parts in their several positions as last above described a reversal of the current is obtained by reversing the switch-lever to its opposite limit of motion, as already'described. I prefer to use the direct current closing and the inverse in opening the airvalve. From the foregoing description it is apparent that the operator can now use either the direct current of sufficient strength to energize magnet 3 or an inverse current'of any desired intensity and-that the valve admitting compressed air into the water-chamber may be opened or closed at the will of the operator, thus allowing the submerged torpedo to be raised again at the will of the operator. When it is desired to stop these operations, all that is necessary is to switch in the 7 direct current, then move the controlling-lever 6 to the button 32 of the rheostat, which energizes the electromagnet 5, operating the sliding bar 34, and thus releasing all of the pivoted armature-levers, as hereinbefore described. The moving of the controlling-lever e to open position or breaking the current by means of switch-leverlO then permits the tension-springs to act quickly and draw the pivotedarmature-levers 25, 28, and 29 to their normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,)

.thereby enabling current to be supplied to the propeller-motor b or any of the other motors whenever desirable or necessary.

To explode the torpedo, I have shown an electrically-actuated device, which is placed in the main circuit and arrangedtobe operated by energizing the magnet 6, which requires direct current of greater intensity than any heretofore described. To provide the desired intensity for this purpose, the controlling.-

lever e is'moved to the button of the rheostat, which movement furnishes a direct current of sufficient intensity to flow, whenthe parts are in the position shown-in Fig. '1,-

through the circuit, as above described, until it reaches the magnet 6, and energizing the same it pulls down its armature-lever 71 until its opposite end contacts the wire 72, so that the current flows'from the auxiliary battery through wire 77, armature-lever 71, wire 72 to thedetonating device 73, which is acted upon, thereby exploding the torpedo, the current returning through wire 7-l to the battery. I prefer to have the pivoted armature 71 a permanent magnet polarized in such a manner that a direct current passing through magnet 6 causes magnet 6 to attract lever 71 and close the firing-circuit, whereas an inverse current will repel the armature 71. By this means I am enabled to use an inverse current to the full capacity of the battery without danger of explosion.

With my invention instead of using the firing-circuit described above and shown in Fig. 1 it is also possible for the main circuit flowing from battery 0 to be switchedat will through the detonating device 73 by mechanism similar to that hereinbefore described for switching the current to 62. The magnet 6 in such case when energized would actuate an armature-lever corresponding to the armature-levers 25, 28, and 29, as hereinbecontaining the same, upon the bottom portion of the torpedo (shown in Fig. 5) near'the end of the wire, as at 76, said spool being electrically connected by means of the button 77 with the brush 78 and thence to the different motors, so that as the torpedo is moved out there will be little or no drag of wire. The

spool 75 should work either upon a pointed pivot or ball-bearings, so as to cause as little friction as possible. It will be understood, however, that the spool may be placed on the land and the wire paid out automatically as the torpedo is directed or controlled. I

The torpedo may be directed from a ship or floating battery, as .well as from the land, in which case the wire 9 would connect with the water instead of with the ground, the mechanism being operated exactly as herein- .before described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that if any motor-for instance, b'is in use then when the current is increased so as to switch in motor 39, for instance, there must be an instant of time when a current will pass through both the motor b and the motor 39; otherwise the current will be entirely broken, Therefore the contact-points p, q, 53, and.52 are so arranged with reference to the pivoted armature-lever 25 that when magnet 1 is energized it draws its armature 47 toward it; but just before 47 comes in contact with the core of magnet 1 pin 52 comes in contact IIO with the projecting point of armature-lever 25, Fig. 1, and the spring-contacts p and 53 are so adjusted that at the same instant that 52 comes in contact with 25 the contact-spring 53 is also in contact with the armature-lever 25, thus allowing a current to pass through motor 39, while at the same instant p and q are still in contact, thus allowing the divided current to pass through motor I). The mechanism is so arranged, however, that the resistance of any one of the motors is so small as compared with the difference of resistance between any two consecutive points of rheostat that this momentary passing of the current through the two motors cannot give a suflicient increase of current to energize the succeeding magnet 2. The current, however, is allowed to pass through the two motors only for an instant, and when 47 comes in contact with the core of magnet 1 the contact between the points 19 and q is entirely broken, thus cutting the, motor I) out of the circuit. The same principle applies between contacts 'LL and o and between contacts 1 and 2 when their respective magnets 1, 2, and 3 are energized.

It is apparent from the above description that the operator cannot only use any of the motors above described at will, but that by means of a magnet similar to magnet l and its corresponding mechanism the operator can at the same time cause the current to pass through, and so to simultaneously operate any two or more of the motors hereinbefore described in either direction and at any desired rate of speed. I

In my invention I prefer to use motors constructed in such a manner that their armatures may be reversed by simply reversing the current in manner hereinbefore described, thus enabling the operator to use the same motor for both forward and backward movements. Ido not limit the invention to this method, however, but claim theright to use a separate motor for each motion desired, the several motors being coupled together and operated in manner similar to that hereinbefore described. It is also possible with the switching mechanism hereinbefore described to operate all of the motors from the shore by using a single battery upon the torpedo itself for supplying power to the motor, the current from such battery being switched in and out of circuit in the same manner as hereinbefore described, the switching mechanism only being operated by the current leading from the shore in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

Reversible motors are well known and in common use. In Fig. 7, however, I have illustrated diagrammatically a reversible motor mechanism, including a switch, such as I em-- ploy and which constitutes a portion of such motor mechanism. 1 will now describe the manner of reversing the motion of the armatures of the various motors.

In Fig. 11, b is a diagrammatic illustration of the motor (see Fig. 1) which is used to propel the torpedo backward and forward, as hereinbefore described. In said Fig. 11, is a soft-iron wire-wound magnet, and 101 is a permanently-magnetized portion of a pivoted armature-bar 102, energized and placed adjacent to such magnet in such a manner that its pole nearest the magnet will be attracted thereby whenever such magnet is energized by a direct current and will be repelled thereby whenever the magnet is energized by an inverse current. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 11, with the electric current flowing from battery through wire 0", (see Fig. 1,) thence around magnet 100, energizing it, armature 101 will be attracted and drawn down into contact with magnet 100, as shown in Fig. 11. The current will then flow from magnet 100 through wire 104, thence through pivoted armaturebar 102 to contact-post 105 and through same, thence through contact-spring 106, thence through wire 107 and around field-magnet 10S, energizing it, thence through wire 100 and around field magnet 110, energizing same, thence through wire 111, contact-sprin g 112, post 113, post 114, spring 115, wire 110 toand around armature-magnets 117, energizing same, thence through wire 5, (see also Fig. 1,) and thence back to battery, as hereinbefore described. The armature and field magnets of motor I) are wound in such a manner as to cause the armature 117 to revolve in a given direction-as from right to leftwhen actuated by direct current, thus causing the motor to propel the torpedo in a backward direction, as hereinbefore described. Now if it be desired to propel the torpedo forward the switch-lever (see Fig. 1) is turned so that its arm h contacts button 15 and arm 12 contacts button 16, as hereinbefore described. The current will now flow around magnet 100 in such a direction as to cause it to repel armature -bar magnet 101 until the armature-bar 102 impinges agains pin 127, in which position posts 118, 123, and 124 will be in contact with springs 119, 122, and 125, respectively, and contact between posts 105, 113, and 114 and springs 106, 112, 115, respectively, will be broken. The current will now flow from battery through wire 3, Figs. 1 and 11, thence around armature-magnets 117, energizing same, thence through wire 116, wire 126, spring 125, metallically-connected posts 124 and 123, spring 122, wire 121, wire 107, thence around field-magnet 108, energizing same, thence through wire 10!), thence around magnet 110, energizing same, thence through wires 111 and to spring 119,thence through post 118, bar 102, wire 104, magnet 100, energizing same, as hereinbefore described, thence through wire 4", and back to battery in manner hereinbefore described. It will be seen that the inverse current passes around the armature-magnets 117 in an opposite direction to the direct current, the result being that the respective poles of the armature- ICU ' and 125.

reversible motor mechanism.

magnets 117 will be reversed witlrreversal of current. It is also apparent that the direct current and inverse current will flow around field-magnets 10S and 110 in the same direction and that therefore the polarity of the field magnets will remain the same no matter whether a direct or inverse current is used, the result being that the direction of the motion of, the armature 117 will be reversed when the direction of the actuatingcurren t'is reversed, as hereinbefo re suggested. Posts 105 and 118, Fig. 11, are so adjusted with reference to springs 106 and 119, respectively, that while magnet 101 is moving between magnet 100 and pin 127, as hereinbefore described, there is an instant of time when each of said posts is in contact with its respective spring, and in like manner there is an instant of time when posts 113 and 114 are in contact with springs 112 and 115, respectively, and posts 123 and 124 will respectively, also, be in contact with springs 122 These periods of double contacts, however, .last but for an instant, for when movable armature-bar 102 comes to rest,

either by impinging upon pin 127 or by magnet 101 impinging against magnet 100, there will be a cont-act between the respective posts and springs on one side only of movable bar 102. Posts 113 and 114 and posts 123 and 124 are respectively insulated from bar 102.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a reversible motor 1), (shown in Fig. 1,) including the switch mechanism by means of which the direction ofrotation of such motor is reversed, and which switch mechanism may therefore be saidto be an essential part of an ordinary Itwill be understood, of course, that this or any ordinary and well-known form of reversible motor and switch mechanism may be employed. The motors 39, 56, and 62 and their switch mech anisms are identical with the motor shown in Fig. 11, and it is therefore deemedunn'ecessary and undesirable that an additional and individual description of such motors be made. Fig. 11 will serve as an illustration of all four. The purposes for which they are employed have already been described, and the wires with which theyare connected for accomplishing such purposes and arrangement of the motors with relation to each other are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 8, 56 is a motor which operates the valve 104, and 62 is the motor which operates the valve 103. 704 is a shaft connected directly with the armature of 56, Upon 704 is a worm which operates the worm-wheel 105. 105 is affixed upon the shaft 106, and upon 106 is also affixed the valve 104. manner 107 is a shaft affixed to the armature of the motor 62. Upon .107 is a worm which operates the worm wheel 108, and 108 is affixed upon shaft 109, upon which is also affixed the valve 103. 110 is a hollow tube inserted in the lower wall of the torpedo (see Fig. 8) and extends to the center of the water- In like chamber 101. 111(see Figs. 7 and 8) is ahollow tube extending from the valve 104 through the upper wall of the torpedo and arranged in such a manner as to connect through the valve with the water-chamber 101 when the valve 104 is open, as hereinafter described. 112 (see Figs. 7 and 8) is-a hollow tubeconnecting the air in the compressedair tank with the valve 103 and arranged therewith in such manner as to permit the air to pass from 102 into 101 when the valve 103 is open, as

hereinafter more fully. described. When valve 104 is closed, as represented in- Fig. 8, the pin 113, projecting from shaft 106, presses against and is stopped by pin 114, which projects from the head of the cylindrical box containing valve 104. When the mechanism is in the position represented in Fig. 8, the valves 103 and 104 are in such position as to prevent water from entering the reservoir 101 and also to prevent the compressed air from escaping from the tank 102. Now if I desire to sink the torpedo I operate the controllinglever c, Fig. 1, and reversing-switch in the manner hereinbefore fully described, so as to cause a direct current to operate the motor 56. When the direct current is caused to pass through the motor 56 and operate it in the manner hereinbefore described, the worm on v 704 operates the worm-wheel 105 in such a manner as to cause valve 104 to rotate until pin 113 comes in contact with and is stopped by pin 115. Now when the valve 104 was in the position represented in Fig. 108 the opening 116 through said valve was not in juncture with the-pipe 111. When, however, the valve is caused to rotate in manner above described until 113 comes in contact with 115,

then 116 is constructed in such manner as to be in direct juncturewith the opening through pipe 111, thus making a free connection between the water-chamber 101 and the outside of the torpedo at 124-through the opening 117 in the wall of the water-chamber, valve 104, and tube 111. (See Figs..7 and 8.) When the valve 104 was closed, the water could not enter into the chamber 101 through the pipe 110 because of the air therein contained. As soon, however, as the air is allowed to escape from 101 through the valve 104, thence through 111, and thence through the upper wall of the torpedo the water will rush through tube 110 into the chamber 101, which chamber is of such size as to cause the torpedo to sink when it is thus filled with water. After the torpedo has been sunk in the manner described if it is desired to again raise the same it is first necessary to drive the water from the chamber 101. This I accomplish by first closing the valve 104, which is done by IIC causing the armature of said motor 56 to revolve in the opposite direction from that in which it operated in opening the valve 104. Under the in fiuence of this inverse current the valve 101 will rotate in an opposite ,direction to that hereinbefore last described until the pin 113 again comes in contact with the pin 114, in which position it must come to rest, thus leaving the valve 104 closed in the same position as shown in Fig. 8.. I now by manipulating the controlling-lever and reversing-switch (see Fig. 1) in manner hereinbefore fully described cut the motor 56 out of the circuit and cut the motor 62 into circuit in such a manner as to open the valve 103. This I accomplish by using a direct current, as hcreinbefore described, which direct current passing through motor 62 causes its armature to operate the shaft 107, thus operating the worm, which works in and operates the worm-whcel108, thereby operating the valve 103 in such a manner that it revolves until the pin 118, which is affixed upon shaft 109, comes in contact with and impinges against pin 119. hen the pin 118 is in contact with pin 119, the opening 120 through valve 103 is just in juncture with the opening through the pipe 112, thereby allowing the compressed air to flow out of 102 through 112, thence through valve 103, thence through the walls of the Water-chamber at 121, (see Figs. 8 and 9,) and thus into the water-chamber 101. Vhen the compressed air flows from 102 into 101 in the manner just described, it will force suflicient water out of 101 through the pipe 110 to cause the torpedo to rise to the surface. In Fig. 8 the pipe 110 is extended into 101 in such a manner that the opening at its upper end (within the water-chamber) is directly in the center of the waterchamber, and the chamber 101 is constructed and designed so that normally it is always half full of water when the torpedo is afloat. The pipe 110 is arranged in this manner so that when the compressed air is admitted to the water-chamber 101 it will force out of the chamber 101. sufficient water to cause the torpedo to float no matter in. what position the torpedo may be lying when sunken. hen it is desired to close the valve 103, the current which passes through motor 02 is simply reversed, thereby causing its armature, as hereinbefore described, to revolve in the opposite direction from that last above described, thus causing the worm-wheel 8 to revolve in such a direction as to return the valve to its closed position, as represented in Fig. 8, in which case the pin 118 will be brought to rest against pin 122.

I claim 1. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of a propeller, an electric motor, a plurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance provided with armatures arranged to be electrically connected with a single wire, locking mechanism for locking one of the armatures, mechanism in operative engagement with the adjacent armature for raising such locking mechanism and thereby the armature, and means for varying the intensity of the current of such wire for operating such electromagnets and armatures, substantially as described.

2. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propeller and rudder mechanism, electric motors therefor, a plurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance, armatures for such magnets, mechanism for each motor for connecting it with the magnets and in the same electric circuit, a single line wire for connecting the magnets with a supply of electric current, and means for varying the intensity of the current in such Wire to operate the desired electromagnets and armatures and thereby the motors, substantially as described.

3, In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propeller, rudder and valve mechanism, a water-compartment and a plurality of motors for operating the same, a plurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance and armatures electrically c011- nected with such motors and by a single line with the shere, and means for varying the intensity of electric current in such line and thereby operating the armatures and controlling the motors, substantially as described.

4. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propelling mechanism, rudder and valve mechanism for controlling the inlet of the exhaust of water into the watercompartment of a torpedo and mechanism for controlling the supplyof com pressed air to the water-supply chamber, a plurality of electric motors for operating such mechanisms, aplurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance provided with armatures electrically connected with such motors, a single linewire electrically connecting the shore with the electromagnets and armatures, and means for varying the intensity of electric currentin such line to energize and deenergize the magnets and operate the armatures and thereby have control of the motors, substantially as described.

5. I11 a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propeller and rudder mechanism, electric motors for operating the same, mechanism forming an electric circuit comprising a plurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance and armatures for such magnets, a source of current-supply, such as a battery arranged upon shore, a sin gle lin'e-wire connecting the source of ourrent-supply on the shore with the motors and electromagnets, means for varying the intensity of current in such line to operate the magnets, and mechanism for locking the armatures in engagement with their magnets or permitting them to be released from such engagement-all controlled by the different intensities of the current in a single main line, substantially as described.

6. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of a motor for operating the propeller, a motor for operating the rudder, a motor for controlling the inlet and exhaust IIO of water, a motor for controlling the supply of compressed air, three electric magnets of unequal electric resistance provided with armature-levers for making and breaking the circuits with the said motors, locking mechanism for locking and unlocking such armaturelevers, electromagnets of unequal electric resistance arranged in the same electric circuit with the other three magnets and adapted to be electrically connected with each motor with the armature of each of the magnets and with a suitable source of electric supply and provided with armature mechanism for operatin g the locking and unlocking mechanisms, and means for varying the intensity of the current in such circuit to operate the different electromagnets, substantially as described.

7. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electromotors arranged to operate the propeller-rudder,water-controlling and compressed-air mechanism, three electric magnets of unequal electric resistance provided with pivoted armaturelevers for making and breaking the electric circuit with such motors, a sliding bar provided with a polarized armature and electromagnet therefor and with locking mechanism to automatically lock the pivoted armaturelevers in engagement with their respective magnets, wire mechanism for formin g'an electric circuit embracing such magnets armatures and motors, a single wire electrically connected with such wire mechanism and with a source of electric supply, and means for varying the intensity of current of such single wire to operate the armatures, substantially as described. v

8. Ina torpedo of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electric motors for operating the propeller, rudder and other. mechanisms, a plurality of unequal electro-' magnets arranged to be energized by currents of different intensity, pivoted armature-1evers arranged adjacent thereto and adapted.

to make and break the circuits between the various motors independently or simultaneously, a primary sliding bar with a multiplica source of current-supply on the shore, and

rection of current therein to operate the same,

substantially as described.

9. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propeller, rudder and valve mechanism, a water-compartment and a plurality of motors for operating such propeller, rudder and valve mechanism, a plurality of electromagnets of unequal electric resistance provided with armatures and adapted to be electrically connected with such motors, a single wire connecting such magnets electrically Witha suitable source of electric supply upon the shore, and means for varying the electric current in such line and thereby operating the armatures and controlling the motors, substantially as described.

10. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of propelling and guiding devices comprising a plurality of motors, a'plurality of switch mechanisms, and electromag-- netic devices of unequal electric resistance for controlling and operating the same, and a current whereby the operation of the torpedo V,

is controlled, substantially as described.

11. In a torpedo of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electromagnets of unequal resistance, an armature for each magnet, wire mechanism connecting such magnets together and with a suitable source of electric supply and forming an electric circuit, propeller mechanism, reversible electric motor mechanism in engagement with such propeller mechanism adapted to be operated in opposite directions successively for driving the propeller in correspondingly opposite directions, switch mechanism for electrically connecting the motor mechanism with the mechanism of the electric circuit, a rheostat for increasing and decreasing the intensity of the electric current through the parts forming the electric circuit, means for reversing the direction of the flow of such current, and a single wire arranged intermediate the source of current-supply, rheostat and current-reversing mechanism and the mechanism of the electric circuit containing the electromagnets, substantially as described.

DAVID WILEY MOOAUGHEY. jlllitn essesz THOMAS F. SHERIDAN,

HARRY IRWIN ORoMER. 

